SINGAPORE - The Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) renamed its School of Human Development and Social Services in honour of Singapore's sixth president, Mr S R Nathan, who died in 2016.
The school is now the S R Nathan School of Human Development (NSHD), to recognise the advocacy of social and community causes championed by Mr Nathan, who was patron of SUSS.
The university's president, Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, said at the renaming ceremony on Thursday (Feb 22): "Mr Nathan was genuinely interested in our university's work. He visited us and participated in a good number of our university events. He was a strong advocate and supporter of our mission to provide lifelong education that equips our students to serve society."
Before he became president in 1999, Mr Nathan had a distinguished career in the civil service, and also served as High Commisioner to Malaysia and ambassador to the United States.
The NSHD will focus on fields such as childhood education, adult learning, gerontology and counselling.
President Halimah Yacob, said in her speech as the event's guest of honour: "This new name recognises the potential impact of the school's academic programmes and research, which are clearly aligned with Mr Nathan's lifelong commitment of uplifting fellow Singaporeans and forging closer social cohesion."
President Halimah, who is now the patron of SUSS, reminded the audience at the university that the school's programmes were especially important for Singapore as society ages.
Also attending the ceremony with her grandchildren, Monisha and Kheshin Cheong, was Mr Nathan's widow, Mrs Urmila Nathan, who said: "Our family is deeply touched that SUSS has named one of its schools after my late husband."
She said the family was proud to be associated with the school's vision and values.
Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, were also guests at the event.
